Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution — but from annihilation.

We’re fighting for our right to live, to exist.

And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice:

We will not vanish without a fight!

We’re going to live on!

We’re going to survive!”

Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!

Sure, it’s easy to dismiss the first ‘Independence Day’ as a cheesy popcorn flick built around hostile aliens blowing s*** up, because… well, it IS. But that’s not to say it’s not a crowd pleaser or without merit. Bill Pullman’s rousing speech as the President of what used to be the United States to the assembled remains of the world’s military is hands down one of the most impassioned and rousing in film history. Even the REAL President, Barack Obama quoted it!

‘Independence Day’ was a rare wonder. It did phenomenally well and single-handedly launched Will Smith’s film career. A sequel would seemingly have been a no-brainer. Yet… one never materialized.

Now, 20 years later, a follow-up is finally upon us– ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ and like the invaders in the first movie, it pretty much snuck up on us all! No one was expecting a trailer from the new film, even though it is due next summer. Of course, right now all the hype is swirling around a certain other sci-fi epic due out this weekend.

Jeff Goldblum returns as Dr. David Levinson, along with original stars Pullman, Vivica A. Fox, Brent Spiner and Judd Hirsch. They are joined by Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher (as the son of Fox’s character), Charlotte Gainsbourg, Joey King, Maika Monroe and Sela Ward as the current President.

One name that is obviously missing is Smith’s. He played hotshot pilot Steve Hiller in the original, but chose not to take part in the new movie, so the powers that be reported that his character had been killed off-screen many years ago.

Perhaps realizing the impact Pullman’s speech had in the original movie, it is reprised in the new trailer. Watch for yourself below and decide if this new film captures the energy of the original:

What did you think of this surprise trailer? Are you looking forward to another war with extraterrestrial invaders? Or has it been too long since the first movie came and went?

Jax Motes

Jax's earliest memory is of watching 'Batman,' followed shortly by a memory of playing Batman & Robin with a friend, which entailed running outside in just their underwear and towels as capes. When adults told them they couldn't run around outside in their underwear, both boys promptly whipped theirs off and ran around in just capes.